Brooklyn Driver Who Mowed Down Cyclist Charged With Murder: DA

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — A Brooklyn man faces murder charges for running over a cyclist he said was trying to steal his Jeep, prosecutors announced Friday.

Korey Johnson, 41, stands accused of chasing down and mowing over Donald Roberts, 47, on Broadway in Bushwick on Sept. 3 about 6 a.m., according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's office.

“This defendant allegedly turned his car into a deadly weapon and needlessly took a life," said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. "Lawless behavior cannot be tolerated, and we will now seek to hold this defendant accountable for his actions.”

The chase began when Johnson allegedly found Roberts trying to break into his 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee parked on Broadway near Ellery Street in Bushwick, prosecutors said.

Johnson jumped in his car and sped after Roberts, who tried to cycle away down Broadway, but was crushed by the SUV, which slammed into a row of parked cars and flipped on its side, said prosecutors.

Roberts became one of 23 cyclists to be fatally injured in New York City streets this year when he died in Woodhull Hospital hours later, prosecutors said.

Johnson was arrested shortly after police pulled him out of the Jeep, said prosecutors.

Johnson, of Ocean Hill on the Crown Heights border, was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court on charges of murder and reckless endangerment then ordered held without bail, prosecutors said.

The Brooklyn man is expected to return to court on Dec. 6 and could face 25 years to life in prison if convicted, said prosecutors.